The Cardinal women’s soccer team played another nail-biter on Saturday afternoon, going into overtime for the third time this season. Unlike last week, when Wesleyan fell to Bowdoin in the extra period, the Cardinals secured the golden goal this time to beat NESCAC rival Bates.
The Cardinals were the first to put a mark on the scoreboard. In the first half at 32:46, Dasha Battelle ’11 scored her fourth goal of the season by powering a shot into the right side of the goal. Laura Kurash ’13, who made an immediate impact on the pitch after missing eight games due to an injury, assisted on Battelle’s tally.
Bates battled back to tie the score in the second half at 49:19 as their unmarked wing midfielder ran into the box to take a shot past a diving Kate Connolly-Smithwick ’13. With the score tied at the close of the second half, the game proceeded into overtime. It didn’t take long for the Cardinals to end the game, as Wesleyan netted the game-winner in the 94th minute. Kurash corralled a loose ball at the top of the Bates box and fired the ball into the top of the goal.
“It was important that we were able to win in overtime,” said Battelle. “We’ve been put in that position a lot, both this season and last season, and it’s the best feeling to put in the extra effort in overtime and come out with a win.”
Added midfielder Taylor Stevenson ’10, “Overall, I would say that Bates came out with great intensity, and, to be honest, outworked us in the first half. However, we matched their intensity in the second half and in overtime; our skill prevailed as we put one away in overtime. It was a tense and exciting game, but I had no doubt that we would clinch the win.”
With this conference victory, the Cardinals improved to 3-4-0 in NESCAC play and secured their second straight conference tournament bid. The Cards will now look to improve their seeding by winning their final two conference games against Amherst and Connecticut College. With a pair of wins, Wesleyan can finish as high as fourth in the NESCAC standings, which would give the Cardinals a home playoff game for the first time since the 1994 ECAC tournament.
The win was exciting for the team, but Saturday also celebrated the accomplishments of the senior class. Beth Kenworthy ’10, Alisha Neptune ’10, Ingrid Parl ’10, and Stevenson all possibly played their final home game on Jackson Field.
“We are hoping that we can earn a home playoff game if we perform in our next two NESCAC games,” said Stevenson. “It was a memorable game for the seniors, and I am thrilled we all came together the last time.”
The seniors have a week to prepare the team to face Little Three rival Amherst in their second-to-last regular season game, with kickoff set for 2:00 Saturday.
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